Nature conservation

Threatened species

Rhaphidospora bonneyana - profile

Indicative distribution


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Key:
known
predicted
The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.
Scientific name: Rhaphidospora bonneyana
Conservation status in NSW: Extinct
Commonwealth status: Vulnerable
Profile last updated: 19 Dec 2023

Description

Rhaphidospora bonneyana is a shrub growing to 40 cm high with spiny lateral branchlets borne in opposite pairs, successive pairs at right angles to each other. Leaves lack stalks and the blades are very narrow to oval-shaped, 2–8 mm long and 0.5–1 mm wide, the margins entire, and often occur in small clusters along the older stems. Inflorescences are in clusters of 1–5 flowers (usually one mature at a time) at the end of long stalks that are often forked into two equal branches. Flowers are on stalks to 3 mm long. The corolla is tubular, pale lilac or white, hairy on the outside, the tube 7 mm long, two-lipped. The upper lip is erect, shallowly notched; the lower lip is curved downwards, three-lobed and marked with deep red spots. Fruit are dry, splitting open when ripe, 1.6 cm long and four-seeded.

Distribution

Rhaphidospora bonneyana is known from south-west Queensland and north-west New South Wales, growing in gullies or on the tops of rocky mesas.

In Queensland, the species has been collected from Gowan Range and Lorne Peak, south-west of Blackall; Grey Range between Adavale and Blackall; Biddenham; Mariala National Park (NP); and Morven (Thomby) Range. In NSW, it is known from two collections made in the 1800s, near Mount Murchison and at Momba and is presumed to be extinct. However in 2021, two small populations of 50-100 plants were found near Yantabulla.

Habitat and ecology

  • Flowering likely occurs in response to good rainfall, with flowering material collected between March and October.
  • Two populations recently discovered in 2021 were both on south to south-east scarp slopes of low mesas about 3.6km apart near the Queensland border between Yantabulla and Hungerford. One population is of 100-250 plants across approximately 600m of slope, the other population much smaller at about 50 plants.
  • 2021 populations are both growing on rocky slopes under Acacia petraea (Lancewood) woodland with occasional Psydrax latifolia, Flidersia maculosa (Leopardwood) and Ventilgo viminalis (Supplejack).
  • 2021 populations grew in habitat with low shrubs and groundcover of Eremophila latrobei, various Sida and Abutilon species, Zygophyllum apiculatum and Sclerolaena species with scattered grasses (Aristida, Austrostipa, Sporobolus and Thyridolepis species).
  • 2021 populations did not contain any seedlings indicating recruitment, but plants did contain a size range and were in good condition. No evidence of browsing was observed even though feral goats were in the general area.


Threats

Recovery strategies

Activities to assist this species

IBRA Bioregion IBRA Subregion Known or predicted Geographic restrictions region